Overlooking the rolling hills and valleys of the NSW Liverpool Plains, the winner of this year’s HIA Australian Specialised Housing award is a contemporary reimagining of the timber shacks that are such a quintessential part of Australia’s rural landscape.

Playing out in a sleek yet rugged mixture of black steel and charred timber, The Hut was purpose-designed as luxury accommodation – a boutique, character-filled getaway where stressed-out city dwellers can unwind and reconnect with nature without sacrificing any creature comforts. This city-to-country connection was part of the concept for Gilay.

‘This building brings a whole new meaning to the term “specialised”,’ says Aaron Lawson, whose company, Aztek Constructions, carried out the build. ‘This is not for physical accessibility needs but rather built as a home away from home for anyone needing an escape, for their emotional wellbeing.’

Completely off-grid, The Hut boasts an astonishing 80 per cent occupancy rate.

Aztek Constructions, based in Quirindi, NSW, specialises in historical restorations and sustainable, custom new homes. Aaron says he began his career fitting metal roofing on residential and commercial builds. This certainly put him in good stead for this project, which features a striking asymmetrical roofline, its shape reminiscent of a tent.

The open-plan interior almost glows with the beauty of perfectly honed natural materials. The walls and soaring cathedral ceiling are clad with spotted-gum ply, accented with black joinery and a flawlessly finished polished concrete floor. Expanses of glazing follow the angles of the roofline, framing the incredible views. Every element of this compact 40-square-metre space has been hand-crafted with precision and flair by Aaron and his team. This includes the custom black patina finish steel shelving and the stunning folded stainless-steel vanity/sink in the bathroom.

The interiors seamlessly open onto an expansive cantilevered deck, which leads out to an integrated wood-fired hot tub, pizza oven and fire pit.

While the build was mostly straightforward, Aaron says the angled windows on the eastern side required much technical skill. Maintaining a smooth workflow and management of trades on such a small site presented logistical challenges.

The Hut took six months to complete, and Aaron is proud of the level of finesse that his staff put into the joinery and their workmanship. He particularly credits the project’s success to his lead hand, Brendan, whom he has worked with for 13 years, as well as the behind-the-scenes contributions from his wife and business partner, Donna.

He says he was ‘absolutely blown away’ to win the national HIA award, particularly as he only entered the project because so many of his colleagues (who described it as ‘extraordinary’) encouraged him to do so. He feels proud to have received such recognition for doing a job he already finds so rewarding. ‘The challenge is my favourite part,’ he says.

Materials

• Decking: Spotted Gum from Australian Architectural Hardwoods
• Cladding: Charred timber from Mortlock Timber 
• Roof: Custom Orb in Monument from Lysaght 
• Ceiling, walls and joinery: Armour panel decorative plywood made of Spotted Gum from Big River Group 
• Flooring: Exposed aggregate concrete, full grind 
• Floor and wall tiles: Shale slate in Anthracite from Surface Gallery.

First published on 11 August 2025